Bills Beat Blog

By Joe Buscaglia

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Moving on from Bell?

by Joe Buscaglia,posted Mar 23 2012 3:52PM

As the 2012 NFL Draft draws closer, the Buffalo Bills have yet to address the left tackle position through free agency, which makes it a strong chance that the Bills go after a left tackle early in the draft.

However, one man that manned the position for the Bills for quite some time still sits as an unsigned unrestricted free agent. A former seventh round pick, Bell served as the team's opening day starter for three out of the four seasons. Many believed the Bills could upgrade the position after his first two seasons as starter, but Bell really took the next step in 2011.

That is until yet another injury crept up and ruined all his positive momentum in year number three of starting. That has been the story of Bell's career, missing 17 games over that three-year span.

While Bell has made some progress as a left tackle and is still a young player (27 years old), a solid mixture of injuries, a young backup with promise (Chris Hairston) and the potential to find a long-term starter with the tenth overall pick, the Bills very well could be moving on from their former project left tackle.

A popular question fans ask is 'Ok, everyone is re-signed, now how about Demetrius Bell?'

My simple answer to all those queries... I'm not at all that optimistic about it. Just based on things I've been hearing -- unless Bell's market dries up (which I don't think it will) -- I think the chances are greater he is wearing a different team's uniform in 2012.